Online HRT health warning WOMEN WARNED OF DRUG IMPORTS
DESPERATE women hit by a shortage of HRT drugs are being urged not to resort to foreign websites for their medicine.
The warning comes as the Sunday People found numerous overseas companies offering prescription- only hormone replacement therapy to British customers without a prescription.
The shortage caused by supply chain problems is affecting almost all of the 200,000 British women on HRT and is set to continue into 2020.
Thousands of women have had to switch brands, which sometimes causes debilitating symptoms including joint pain, anxiety and night sweats to return.
Wild
Our research found a large range of HRT drugs available to buy online – with no medical consultation or prescription needed.
One company based in the Australian Pacific region appears to be specifically targeting British women with a website called www.unitedpharmacies-uk.md and a British +44 phone number.
Among the HRT drugs on sale are Climara- 50 patches for relieving menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and vaginal itching.
For £34.63, plus an £8 delivery fee, UK customers are promised the drugs within a fortnight.
They must agree to the terms and conditions – including that they will consult a doctor prior to taking the medication – but all that is required is a ticked box. No checks are carried out.
Another company called Inhousepharmacy. vu – based on the South Pacific island of Vanuatu – is selling the HRT drug Kliogest.
There is no suggestion either firm is acting illegally as there are no restrictions on non-controlled medications being imported into the UK for personal use.
But the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society is concerned women might be putting their health in danger. The society’s director for pharmacy Robbie Turner said: “The internet is like the Wild West when it comes to medicines and you should always avoid sites which sell prescription-only medicines without a prescription.
“There are real risks to health when medicines are bought this way and without professional advice.”
Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency warned: “Medicines offered through websites hosted outside the UK/ EU may be unauthorised, falsified or counterfeit.”
Inhousepharmacy.vu said: “We are a fully licenced and regulated firm subject to monitoring by Vanuatu authorities.
“Anyone affected by the HRT shortages in the UK should take advice from their doctor before contacting us.”